NEW YORK, April 10, 2012 -- DK Publishing announced today a $95,000 children's book donation on behalf of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, two all-volunteer organizations of Star Wars™ costume enthusiasts who raise money for children's charities all over the world. The donation, a record-breaking amount for DK, was made to The Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., who dispersed over 7,000 new, full-color reference books to The Pajama Program for distribution to children across the country.

"We love our ever-growing relationship with the 501st and Rebel Legion volunteers," said Rachel Kempster, DK's Director of Marketing and Publicity. "They are devoted, caring groups of people, who are more than just our partners in business—we also consider them our friends." Kempster was inducted as an official Friend of the Legion at last year's Comic-Con International in San Diego by 501st Legion Officers Lesley Farquhar and Mark Chu-Lin of the Southern California and Central California Garrisons respectively.